Kent State vs Loyola Chicago: NIT Quarterfinal Picks For March 26, 2025
Kent State and Loyola Chicago clash in a NIT quarterfinal game on Wednesday night in college basketball. Get college basketball picks for today around Kent State vs Loyola Chicago battling in a NIT quarterfinal matchup in Chicago, IL!
Here’s a breakdown of predictions and picks for this NIT quarterfinal game tipping off at 7:00PM ET on March 26, 2025!
Kent State vs Loyola Chicago Game Details
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
Broadcast: ESPN2
Location: Gentile Arena, Chicago, IL
Spread: Loyola Chicago -5 | Total: 144.5
Kent State vs Loyola Chicago Betting Preview
If we’re strictly talking about the x’s and o’s with the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s, then Kent State should be very competitive in this game and the line is probably a tick too high.
But man, the Flashes’ MAC schedule is hard to ignore. We’ve touched on this a handful of times through out the year, and this may be the list time we’ll have the opportunity to do it this season: The MAC was really, really bad this year.
Prior to Covid, the MAC was routinely a top-12 conference in the country using KenPom’s efficiency metrics. In the 2018-19 season the MAC was KenPom’s No. 9-rated conference, ahead of the Mountain West, A-10 and Sun Belt.
The MAC will likely finish this season rated as the No. 22 conference behind the Summit League, Big South and Southland.
That is a really steep fall in a short amount of time. Kent State lost to Miami (Ohio) three times and Akron twice, so the Flashes were pretty clearly the third-best team in a league that was very weak.
And with all of that being said, there is still plenty to like about them. Seniors VonCameron Davis and Jalen Sullinger form one of the best duos at the mid-major level.
Kent State is top-75 in the country in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate. The Flashes led the MAC in defensive efficiency and led the conference in creating turnovers. They also have plenty of motivation.
Last year’s season was ended in heartbreaking fashion when Julius Rollins lost track of the score and time in the MAC Championship Game, committing an unnecessary foul with four seconds left to send Akron to the NCAA Tournament.
They also have some motivation based on who is left on the other side of the bracket.
Kent State vs Loyola Chicago Predictions
Kent State suffered its most-embarrassing loss of the season to UC-Irvine when the Flashes were held to 39 points.
Irvine is favored to win the other quarterfinal and would be a potential opponent in Indianapolis. Loyola is on a nice run against the spread, but most of those point spread covers came as an underdog.
Since the end of January, Loyola is 13-3 against the spread, but the Ramblers have only been favored by more than four points three times in that stretch.
Loyola is coming off back-to-back road games in California against San Jose State and San Francisco. There are enough intangibles that have us leaning toward Kent State’s direction with a five-point head start.
Kent State vs Loyola Chicago Prediction: Kent State +5
FREE March Madness Betting Guide Now Available
Gear up for the Madness with our must-have 2025 March Madness Guide!
Here’s what’s included in your FREE 9-page Betting Guide:
✅ 21 Proven March Madness Betting Systems & Sub-Systems
✅ Straight-Up, ATS, & Over/Under records—sorted by seeds and tournament rounds from the past four years
✅ Conference Records as Favorites and Underdogs (last 4 years)
✅ National Championship Odds Comparison: DraftKings vs. FanDuel
✅ The Biggest March Madness Upsets Since 2012
GoldSheet Top Picks
Whether you enjoy written analysis, breaking down stats or creating your own power ratings, The Basketball GoldSheet has something for everyone.
The Basketball GoldSheet newsletter features stat breakdowns for every NBA and college basketball game each day, plus in-depth written analysis on our Key Releases by 12pm ET / 9am PT each morning. Grab a 30-day pass for just over $2 per day and we’ll see you on the hardwood.
Stay Updated for More Betting Insights
Stay updated on the latest college basketball betting insights and predictions at Wagertalk.com, where we provide expert analysis throughout the 2024-2025 college basketball season.
Watch ALL of the College Basketball Free Picks Videos and Betting Reviews for the Week!
Love What You See? Sign Up for a Free WagerTalk Account!
Sign up to receive game-day updates, late breaking releases, free picks, best bets, exclusive betting features, pay per game and package access, contests, community networking, award-winning content and much more. Get your account today – it’s FREE!
Becoming a member of Wagertalk.com is 100% FREE with NO OBLIGATION or CREDIT CARD REQUIRED! Upon sign-up, you get instant access to our community and special offers and free picks. Sign up to WagerTalk now!
**************************************************
Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?
- Latest Betting Odds and Public Action: Vegas lines updated in real time, including who the public is betting on.
- Last Minute Handicapping Advice: Check out our extensive library of handicapping tips and advice from professional Vegas handicappers (we also recommend taking the time to look over our sports betting tips video library)
- Want an expert opinion? Check out the latest Free Sports Picks and Best Bets from our team of expert sports handicappers.
Make sure to bookmark all the above!
